According to a recent study, two out of every three couples who live together say they are afraid of divorce and the ramifications of a failed marriage, such as financial, legal or emotional distress. These fears are preventing people from getting married, to the tune of a record low number in the United States, not just in Illinois.

Why do so many people feel afraid of getting married? There are several possible reasons. A common one is if the parents of one or both partners were divorced when the person was a child. Watching a marriage deteriorate--and enduring the potentially painful custody battle--could easily sour someone on wanting to get married themselves. Additionally, if there was abuse or infidelity in the parents' marriage, that could further sour people on the idea.

It's certainly true that many couples are happy as they are and see no real reason to get married. Although oftentimes, one member of the couple might have a stronger urge to make it official with a marriage certificate. If this is the case, the two people need to have an honest and open discussion to determine what the best course of action is.

While many people delay marriage or put it off entirely because of their parents' divorce, they don't always realize that they won't necessarily turn out the same way. Unfortunately, many couples ultimately do get divorced, if not for the same reasons as their parents. When a marriage reaches a point that proves to be untenable for one of the partners, an experienced divorce attorney can be a valuable asset to ensure that the interests of that person are protected.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times, "Too many singles hold fear of divorce," Dr. Laura Berman, Jan. 3, 2012